Maryland’s early muzzleloader deer season opens statewide on Thursday, Oct. 22, and runs through Saturday, Oct. 24, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced. Hunters in central, southern and eastern Maryland, including Baltimore, Harford, Howard and Anne Arundel counties, get a second, antlerless-only window from Oct. 26 to 31, and the season arrives during the fall breeding period, when the DNR warns that deer-vehicle collisions become more likely.
The three-day segment is the first time this season that hunters may use muzzleloading rifles. The DNR announcement also spells out bag limits, the state’s antler-point rule and special requirements for sika deer.
When is muzzleloader season in Maryland in 2026?
There are two muzzleloader periods this season. The early segment is Oct. 22-24 statewide, followed by an antlerless-only extension in Region B from Oct. 26-31. Region B covers all of Maryland except Region A: Allegany and Garrett counties and western Washington County. A later muzzleloader segment runs Dec. 19 through Jan. 2, according to the DNR 2026-27 hunting seasons calendar.
| Season | Dates (antlered white-tailed deer) |
|---|---|
| Archery (first part) | Sept. 11 – Oct. 21, 2026 |
| Early muzzleloader | Oct. 22 – 24, 2026 |
| Region B antlerless-only muzzleloader | Oct. 26 – 31, 2026 |
| Firearms | Nov. 28 – Dec. 12, 2026 |
| Late muzzleloader | Dec. 19, 2026 – Jan. 2, 2027 |
| Archery ends | Jan. 31, 2027 |
How many deer can you take during muzzleloader season?
The statewide limit for antlered white-tailed deer is two for the license year. A Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp allows a third antlered deer, but the DNR says that stamp cannot be used during the early muzzleloader segment. Antlerless limits differ by region.
Maryland also keeps its antler-point restriction: a hunter may take one antlered deer per year that does not have at least three points on one antler, and any other antlered deer must meet that minimum. Junior hunters and apprentice license holders 16 or younger are exempt.
In the Urban/Suburban Deer Management Zone, which includes Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, the antlerless archery limit is unlimited, the DNR said when archery season opened in September. That rule reflects how many deer live close to homes and roads in the Baltimore suburbs.
What are the rules for sika deer?
Sika deer, a small deer species native to East Asia that is found mostly on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, have their own rules. Either sex may be taken statewide Oct. 22-24, followed by an antlerless-only period Oct. 26-31. Hunters need both a Sika Deer Stamp and a Muzzleloader Stamp. The sika bag limit is three, with no more than one antlered.
Does chronic wasting disease affect Baltimore-area hunters?
Yes. The DNR’s annual survey found 69 deer with chronic wasting disease in 2025, including two in Baltimore County, two in Carroll County and one in Howard County. Most cases were in Allegany, Washington and Frederick counties. All positive deer were inside the state’s seven-county CWD Management Area, where carcass transport is regulated.
The department does not discourage eating venison and says research suggests CWD cannot be naturally transmitted to people. As a precaution, it advises against eating meat from sick animals or the brain, lymph nodes or spinal column of any deer, and asks hunters to allow tissue sampling.
What safety and licensing steps should hunters know?
- Tree stands: Inspect stands before use and wear a full-body harness. The DNR recommends a prusik knot to stay tethered from the time you leave the ground.
- Licenses and stamps: Buy through the MD Outdoors system online or in its app, at a licensing agent, or by calling 866-344-8889.
- Drones: Allowed only to locate wounded or dead game, not to hunt or pursue wildlife. Call Natural Resources Police at 800-628-9944 before and after such a search.
- Donating venison: Maryland offers a state tax credit for donating deer; ask your processor about local programs.
Why should non-hunters in the Baltimore area pay attention?
Fall is breeding season for deer, and the DNR warned on Oct. 5 that it raises the risk of collisions on Maryland roads.
“Remain vigilant for heightened deer activity through the end of the year.”
Karina Stonesifer, director of the DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service, Oct. 5, 2026
The agency advises drivers to be especially alert in early morning and evening, brake gradually instead of swerving, expect more deer after one crosses, and report any crash with a deer to local police without approaching the animal.
If you walk or ride on public land during hunting seasons, check the area’s rules and consider wearing bright clothing. Sunday hunting rules vary by county, so verify local regulations in the 2026-27 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping.
Featured image: A young white-tailed deer buck. Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Region / Wikimedia Commons, public domain.